Mary Bernal
Emergency Medicine Folks,
Much of the success of Emergency Medicine (EM) at the University of Arizona (UA)
can be attributed to Kelly Kellen. On September 1, 1980, the academic presence of Emergency Medicine was initiated with the creation of the Section of EM, within the Department of Surgery. As the inaugural Section Chief, I took over a small, 15 bed emergency department (ED) that saw about 18,000 patients per year within the recently opened 200 bed University Hospital that was the teaching hospital for a fairly new medical school, the first College of Medicine in the State of Arizona.
Kelly Kellen began her employment in the early 80's as a front desk clerk in that ED. Around 1983-4, University Hospital transitioned away from a state-owned facility with the creation of University Medical
Center Corporation (UMCC) and the physician staff became part of University Physicians Inc, (UPI). Once this separation occurred, we (the physicians and associated staff) became responsible for our own patientcare billings and collections. In 1986, I hired Kelly Kellen to become a member of the Section of EM within Surgery to be a part of the billing/collection enterprise.
In 1993-4, we built a new ED, about 4 times the size of the first ED, as our patient volume soon exceeded 40,000 visits/year. (We are currently in our 3rd ED ). We also realized that the process for billing/collections for EM was significantly different from the rest of Surgery. Thus, the Section of EM created a billing/collections division separate from the rest of Surgery. This effort was led by Kelly Kellen. Her success was nothing short of phenomenal. EM became the highest revenue producer in all of Surgery.
In the late 90's, it became evident to me and our faculty that EM should become a separate free standing clinical department. It took me a few years to convince the Dean and Surgery Chair that moving out of Surgery was the right thing to do. By then, we were financially, clinically, educationally and research wise very successful. After a tough struggle, the Department of Emergency Medicine was formed in 2000. Kelly Kellen became the financial manager for the Department of Emergency Medicine. Over the next decade, Kelly continued to work her magic. She was joined by Peggy Hatmaker (deceased), Chris West, Lisa Hayden and others. EM became the highest grossing department in the entire College of Medicine and University Physicians.
Because of Kelly we had resources to create an endowed chair, purchase and furbish research laboratories, and we built a significant reserve. We funded our expanding educational programs, enhanced faculty compensation and invested in the future of EM at UA. EM was a shining star with our College of Medicine and nationally.
In the last few years prior to her retirement, Kelly worked with me within our contract with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
It is with pride and privilege that I had Kelly Kellen as a colleague and friend for over 35 years.. At her death she was surrounded by her family and friends. She was loved.
Thank you, Kelly.
Harvey
Harvey W. Meislin, MD FACEP, FAAEM
Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine
University of Arizona Health Science Center